JP3276383B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly, to a communication device.
A communication device in which a base unit transmits and receives a communication control signal, a call signal, and image information to and from a slave unit by a radio signal to enable a telephone call and a facsimile device to communicate with an external telephone and a facsimile device via a public line network. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many cordless telephones having a master unit and a slave unit have become widespread, and a cordless telephone converts a communication signal transmitted / received to / from an external telephone by connecting to a public line network into a predetermined radio signal. a base unit having a conversion to the ability to send to or receive, and a slave unit to send to or receive a call signal between the master unit, because it can freely call from the slave unit apart a predetermined distance from the base unit, the parent A plurality of slave units are provided for each unit, and each family member can make cordless calls using the slave units in each room.

In recent years, personal facsimile machines for individuals, portable facsimile machines that can be configured, personal computers, and the like have become widespread.

[0004]

However, when using a conventional cordless telephone, personal facsimile, or personal computer to make a telephone call or data communication at home, the number of connected lines is one in an ordinary household. Due to the restriction that there is only a line, connect each personal device to the line, connect it to the base unit of the cordless telephone, or if you use it in your room, pull a long modular cord to the room Need to connect. This is because personal facsimile and personal computers are portable and can be used anywhere. In order to perform data communication, the line must be directly connected, and the range of use of these personal devices is limited to where the line can be connected. There is a problem that the portability, which is the greatest feature, is limited.

Accordingly, the present applicant has previously provided a terminal for connecting a facsimile apparatus to a slave unit of a cordless telephone, and transmitted various facsimile communication control signals and image signals input from the facsimile apparatus to the base unit to transmit them to the public. A telephone which enables facsimile communication within the transmission range of a handset without transmitting a facsimile apparatus directly to a line by transmitting the data to a line network has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3-21908).
No. 2).

However, the conventional cordless telephone has a configuration in which the base unit detects the call signal and then controls the call connection with the handset wirelessly to ring the calling circuit of the handset. If this configuration is applied to a telephone having a handset having the facsimile apparatus connection function as it is, there has been a problem that no ringing call can be made.

Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, there is a problem that communication by extension cannot be performed with only one line.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method in which a base unit determines a partner communication device based on a signal received from a partner communication device and selectively connects a slave unit for voice communication or a slave unit for image communication. It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication device in which an image communication slave unit can receive a call without ringing.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the communication device is connected to a line and communicates with the communication device on the other side via the line.
In a communication device having a master unit capable of transmitting incoming information to a slave unit for voice communication or a slave unit for image communication by a radio signal when there is an incoming call from the other party's communication device, the master unit includes:
Call control means for discriminating the other communication device based on a signal received from the other communication device and selectively connecting the voice communication handset or the image communication handset, the call control means Selectively connects a handset for voice communication or a handset for image communication depending on whether or not a signal received from a communication device of the other party includes a CNG signal.
Then, the master unit transmits an address for registering the image communication slave unit.
Priority to set the priority of the call connection by specifying the
Having a priority order setting means, wherein a plurality of said image communication
Register the address of the slave unit, and receive an incoming call from the line
Is received, based on the priority of the registered address
And the call connection sequence using the radio signal
And use the highest priority image communication slave unit.
In the middle, the other slave units for image communication are sequentially connected to the other slave units in the order of priority.
A call connection sequence is performed .

[0010] The invention of claim 2, wherein, in order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1, wherein said call control hand
The stage is characterized in that, when an incoming call from the line is received, a communication control signal responding to the incoming call is transmitted to the line.

[0011] According to a third aspect, in order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein
When the base unit receives an incoming call from the line,
And voice response means for performing the following .

[0012] The invention of claim 4, wherein, in order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3,
The call control means may receive a signal received from the other party's communication device.
When connected to the slave unit for voice communication based on the
Call the slave unit and set the calling period to a predetermined period.
It is characterized in that the line is released when the number exceeds the limit .

[0013]

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the master unit determines the other party's communication device based on a signal received from the other party's communication device, and selectively selects the voice communication slave unit or the image communication slave unit. It is supposed to connect.

[0015] Therefore, when an image signal is received from the other party's communication device, it is possible to connect to the image communication slave unit, so that the image communication slave unit can be called without ringing.

[0016] Further, a slave unit for voice communication or a slave unit for image communication is selectively connected depending on whether or not a signal received from the other party's communication device includes a CNG signal.

Therefore, the slave unit for voice communication or the slave unit for image communication can be reliably selected and connected to the master unit. Also, the addresses of multiple image communication slave units are registered in the master unit.
When the master unit receives an incoming call from the line,
For image communication by radio signal based on dress priority
The call connection sequence is executed with the slave unit, and
When the slave units for image communication are in use,
The call connection sequence is executed with another slave unit for image communication.
You. Therefore, priority is given to multiple slave units for image communication.
It is possible to set the order and execute the call connection sequence sequentially
Yes, when the fax machine with the highest priority is in use
To avoid problems such as hanging up
it can. As a result, line utilization efficiency can be improved.
it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the call control device comprises:
When an incoming call from the line is received, a communication control signal responding to the incoming call is transmitted to the line.

Therefore, while the master unit is responding to the incoming call from the line, the call connection sequence can be executed with the slave unit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the master unit receives an incoming call from the line, a voice response is made.

Accordingly, the connection state of the slave unit can be notified to the other communication terminal.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when connected to the slave unit for voice communication based on a signal received from the other party's communication device, the slave unit is called, and the calling period exceeds a predetermined period. Sometimes the line is opened.

Therefore, the line can be automatically opened when the handset is not off-hook due to the absence of the operator.

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show one embodiment of the communication device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cordless facsimile apparatus (communication apparatus) 1. The cordless facsimile apparatus 1 includes a slave unit 2 and a master unit 21. Audio circuit 4, modem 5, encoding / decoding unit 6, communication control unit 7, I / F 8, C
PU9, RAM10, ROM11, operation display unit 12, scanner
13, scanner I / F 14, plotter 15 and plotter I / F
The base unit 21 includes a wireless transmission / reception circuit 22, a modem
23, encoding / decoding section 24, communication control section 25, I / F 26, C
PU (call control means) 27, RAM 28, ROM 29, operation display section 30, voice response ROM (voice response means) 31, I / F 32,
Dial pulse transmitter 33, relay 34, off-hook detector
35, a call signal detecting unit 36 and an insulating transformer 37.

In the slave unit 2, the wireless transmitting / receiving circuit 3 includes:
The antenna 17 is connected and the wireless transmission / reception circuit of the base unit 21
A variety of communication control signals, transmission / reception signals and image information are transmitted and received to and from the communication circuit 22, the received communication control signals and image information are output to the modem 5, and the received reception signal is output to the audio circuit 23. At the same time, the communication control signal, the transmission signal, and the image information to be transmitted are converted into radio signals and transmitted.

A speaker 18 is connected to the audio circuit 4. The speaker 18 is driven based on the received signal to make the operator hear the received signal.

The modem 5 modulates the communication control signal to be transmitted and the image information, and demodulates the received communication control signal and the image information.

The encoding / decoding unit 6 encodes the image information according to a predetermined encoding method, and decodes the encoded image information.

The communication control unit 7 exchanges a facsimile communication control signal transmitted / received between the base unit 21 and the other party's facsimile apparatus via the radio transmission / reception circuit 3 at the time of facsimile communication to perform the communication function of the handset 2. It performs settings and exchanges various types of communication control information to control facsimile communication.

The I / F (interface) 8 transfers various communication control information exchanged by the communication control unit 7 to each unit.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 9
The sequence in the cordless facsimile apparatus 1 as the slave unit 2 is executed by controlling each unit in the slave unit 2 according to the program in the ROM 11, and the facsimile communication control processing of the present invention is executed.

In a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10,
Various data for facsimile communication control are stored.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 stores a program for executing a sequence as the slave unit 2 of the cordless facsimile machine 1.

The operation display unit 12 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display). Various commands such as a transmission operation are input from the operation keys. The command content input from the operation keys, various information notified from the master unit 21 to the operator, and the like are displayed.

As the scanner 13, for example, a CCD (Ch
An image scanner using an “Arge Coupled Device” is used, and the scanner 13 scans a document and reads image information of the document.

The scanner I / F 14 transfers a control signal input from the CPU 9 to the scanner 13 and transfers read image information input from the scanner 13 at a predetermined timing in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 9.

As the plotter 15, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used. The plotter 15 directly or indirectly prints an image on a thermal recording paper or an ordinary recording paper via an ink sheet. Record.

The plotter I / F 16 transfers a control signal input from the CPU 9 to the plotter 15 and also outputs reproduced image information input from the encoding / decoding unit 6 via the communication control unit 7 and the I / F 8. The data is transferred to the plotter 15 at a predetermined timing according to the instruction from the CPU 9.

In the base unit 21, the radio transmitting / receiving circuit 22 includes:
An antenna 38 is connected, and various types of communication control signals, transmission / reception talk signals and image information are transmitted / received to / from the wireless transmission / reception circuit 3 of the slave unit 2 by predetermined radio signals, and the received communication control signals
The reception signal and the image information are output to the I / F 32, and the communication control signal, the transmission signal and the image information to be transmitted are converted into radio signals and transmitted.

The modem 23 modulates the communication control signal to be transmitted and image information, and demodulates the received communication control signal and image information.

The encoding / decoding section 24 encodes the image information according to a predetermined encoding method, and decodes the encoded image information.

During facsimile communication, the communication control unit 25 exchanges facsimile control signals with a partner facsimile machine to set communication functions and exchange various communication control information, thereby controlling facsimile communication.

The I / F 26 exchanges various communication control information between the communication control unit 25 and the CPU 27.

The CPU 27 controls each unit in the base unit 21 according to the program in the ROM 29, executes a sequence as the base unit 21 of the cordless facsimile apparatus 1, and executes a facsimile communication control process of the present invention.

The RAM 28 stores various data for facsimile communication control, and particularly stores a registration address for determining the priority of the incoming call of the slave unit of the present invention.

The ROM 29 stores a program for executing a sequence as the parent machine 21 of the cordless facsimile machine 1.

The operation display unit 30 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display). From the operation keys, various commands such as a transmission operation and the like of the slave unit of the present invention are provided. The registration address is input, and the display displays the instruction content input from the operation keys, various information notified from the master unit 21 to the operator, and the like.

The voice response ROM 31 stores voice data responding to an incoming call from the public line network L.
Communication data through the I / F 26 under the control of the communication controller
Transfer to 25.

The I / F 32 includes the wireless transmission / reception circuit 22 and the CPU 27
And various kinds of communication control information and the like are exchanged.

The dial pulse transmitting section 33 closes the DC circuit by the relay 34 and transmits a dial pulse to the public network L.

The relay 34 is controlled to be turned on and off by the communication control unit 25. When the relay 34 is connected to the dial pulse transmitting unit 33, it closes the DC circuit as an off-hook position, and when it is connected to the call signal detecting unit 35. The DC circuit is opened as the on-hook position.

The off-hook detecting section 35 detects the off-hook of the relay 34 and outputs the detection result to the communication control section 25.

The call signal detector 36 detects a call signal caused by an incoming call from the public line network L, and transmits the detection result to the communication controller 25.
Output to

The insulating transformer 37 transmits and receives various communication data in a state where the modem 23 and the dial pulse transmitting unit 33 are insulated.

Next, the operation will be described. In the present embodiment, when the base unit 21 detects a call signal from the public line network L, it responds in response to the call signal, and performs a call connection sequence to the slave unit 2 by a radio signal during execution of this response. Further, there is a feature in that communication processing for performing a call connection sequence to the slaves 2 by wireless signals in the same manner according to the priority order assigned to the plurality of slaves by the registered address is performed. This communication processing will be described below. .

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, there are two types of a slave unit having a facsimile function (slave unit for image communication) and a slave unit having only a telephone function (slave unit for voice communication) with respect to the master unit 21. A description will be given based on the flowchart of the communication processing shown in FIG.

First, a call signal from the public line network L is transmitted to the base unit.
When the call signal is detected by the call signal detector 36 of step 21 (step P1),
The relay 34 is closed by the dial pulse transmitting unit 33 to make it an off-hook state (step P2), and the detection of a CNG signal (call signal) transmitted from the exchange is checked (step P3). If no CNG signal is detected, voice response R
At the same time as transmitting a voice message from the OM 31 to the public line network L, a connection sequence is performed by a radio signal to the sub telephone (TEL), and a calling signal is transmitted T times to the sub telephone so that the sub telephone is off-hook. Is checked (steps P4 to P6). When the user is off-hook, a normal communication operation is performed (step P7). When the user is not off-hook, the transmission of the call signal is stopped, and the relay 34 of the base unit 21 is returned to the on-hook position to release from the public line network L. Then, the present process ends (step P8).

On the other hand, when a CNG signal is detected in step P3, the CED signal (called identification signal) is transmitted to the public line network L.
It makes a connection sequence with the radio signals to simultaneously with Nico machine facsimile apparatus for delivering to, the communicable state with the handset facsimile (step P9, P10). Next, the transmission of the CED signal is stopped, the facsimile apparatus of the slave unit is connected to the public line network L (step P11), facsimile communication is executed, and a normal end operation is performed to end this processing (step P12).

Therefore, by the above-described communication processing, the connection sequence from the master unit to the slave unit telephone set or the slave unit facsimile apparatus by the radio signal while the master unit responds to the incoming call from the public line network L. Since the operations are performed at the same time, the slave telephone or the slave facsimile apparatus can be connected to the public line network L without ringing.

The signal received from the public line network L is
Depending on whether an NG signal is included or not, the terminal is selectively connected to the slave telephone or the slave facsimile device, so that the slave telephone or the slave facsimile device is reliably selected and connected to the master. be able to.

Also, when the base unit receives an incoming call from the public line network L, it performs a voice response.
It is possible to notify the public line network L of the connection state of the slave telephone set.

Further, when the portable telephone is connected to the portable telephone based on the signal received from the public line network L, the portable telephone is called, and when the portable telephone is not off-hook within T times (ie, during the calling period). (When the time exceeds a predetermined period), the public line network L is released, so that the public line network L can be automatically released when the slave telephone is not off-hook due to the absence of the operator.

In FIG. 4, when a calling signal from the public line network L is detected by the base unit (step Q1), after performing a connection sequence with the base unit telephone, if the base unit telephone is not busy, The calling signal is transmitted to the slave telephone set by a wireless signal to perform a ringing operation (step Q2), a normal telephone call operation is performed, and the process is terminated (step Q3).

By this processing, it is possible to cause the slave telephone to perform a normal ringing operation from the master unit to perform a telephone call operation.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the master unit executes the above-mentioned communication processing operation on a plurality of slave unit facsimile apparatuses (N units). A flowchart of the communication processing will be described with reference to FIG.

When a registration address is assigned to a plurality of slave units (N units), the master unit 21 sets call connection priorities based on the registered addresses, and based on the priorities. A call connection sequence is performed.

In the communication processing shown in FIG. 3, the call connection sequence is executed in order from the first facsimile apparatus with the first priority (step R1). When the facsimile apparatus with the designated priority is in use, (Step R
2) A call connection sequence is executed for the slave facsimile apparatus of the next priority, and when the slave facsimile apparatus of the designated priority is not in use, facsimile communication processing by a normal radio signal is executed. Then, the present process ends (step R3).

Therefore, the priority of the call connection is set for a plurality of slave facsimile apparatuses, and a silent call connection sequence is similarly executed. When the highest priority slave facsimile apparatus is in use, In addition, it is possible to avoid such a problem that the call is disconnected and to improve the use efficiency of the public line network L.

[0073]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image signal is received from the other party's communication device, it is possible to connect to the image communication slave unit. Can be done.

Further, a slave unit for voice communication or a slave unit for image communication can be reliably selected and connected to the master unit. Ma
You can also set priorities for multiple slave units for image communication.
Can execute the call connection sequence sequentially,
Hang up the call when the slave facsimile machine is in use
It is possible to avoid such a problem that the data is lost. This result
As a result, the line use efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the call connection sequence can be executed with the slave while the master is responding to the incoming call from the line.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the connection state of the slave unit can be notified to the other communication terminal.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the line can be automatically released when the slave telephone is not off-hook due to the absence of the operator.

[0078]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cordless facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a cordless facsimile apparatus to which communication processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a communication process for the slave facsimile apparatus and the slave phone according to the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4 ;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication process for a slave telephone set according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a cordless facsimile apparatus to which communication processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is applied.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of communication processing for a plurality of handset facsimile apparatus according to the invention of mounting the serial to any one of claims 1-4.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cordless facsimile apparatus (communication apparatus) 2 Remote unit 3, 22 Wireless transmission / reception circuit 5, 23 Modem 6, 24 Encoding / decoding section 7, 25 Communication control section 9 CPU 10, 28 RAM 11, 29 ROM 12, 30 Operation Display unit 21 Base unit 27 CPU (call control unit) 31 Voice response ROM (voice response unit) 35 Off-hook detection unit 36 Call signal detection unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-15772 (JP, A) JP-A-1-318455 (JP, A) JP-A-1-180175 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 135175 (JP, A) JP-A-5-110710 (JP, A) JP-A-4-242364 (JP, A) JP-A-2-123160 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A handset for voice communication, which is connected to a line and communicates with the communication device of the other party via the line and, when a call is received from the communication device of the other party, receives incoming information by a radio signal. Or in a communication device having a master unit capable of transmitting to the slave unit for image communication, the master unit determines the other party's communication device based on a signal received from the other party's communication device and the slave unit for voice communication Or a call control unit for selectively connecting the video communication slave unit, wherein the call control unit determines whether or not a signal received from the other party's communication device includes a CNG signal or not. Selective connection of image communication slave unit
A and, further, said master unit, registering the image communication handset
Set the priority of call connection by specifying the address
Has a priority setting unit that, registers the addresses of the plurality of said image communication handset in the parent machine
And when the master unit receives an incoming call from the line,
Based on the radio signal based on the priority of the registered address
Execute the call connection sequence with the slave unit for image communication and
When the highest priority image communication handset is in use,
The call connection sequence with another image communication slave unit in the order of priority.
Communication device and executes. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said call control means , upon receiving an incoming call from said line, sends a communication control signal responding to said incoming call to said line. 3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said master unit has voice response means for performing a voice response when receiving an incoming call from said line. 4. When the call control means is connected to the slave unit for voice communication based on a signal received from the communication apparatus of the other party, the call control unit calls the slave unit, and the calling period exceeds a predetermined period. communication equipment according to any claim 1 to 3, characterized in that opening the line when the.